The year 2009 -Naoe Kanetsugu Kabuto of "Ai"

This kabuto is a genuine kabuto as if it could exist in Sengoku period. Using Japanese traditional armor-making technique, an original kabuto of Naoe Kanetsugu is recreated gorgeously.
A front crest is a shape of the Chinese letter "Ai" which is a trademark of Naoe Kanetsugu above the cloud pattern. The letter "Ai" layered with brilliant gold leaf so that it makes a beautiful contrast with cloud layered with oxidized silver leaf. And two side crests are carved wooden parts applied with silver leaf then oxidized on the surface. As the time passes by, the color of them will become more and more profound as the times passes by. For hand-made one by one perfectly, it is impossible to see just same coloring such as mess production. The silver side crests present an exquisite contrast to the front crest with gold and silver leaf. As a result, the kabuto makes unforgettable impressions on people who have ever seen it.
The shape of the helmet is based on energetic molding of Sengoku periodfs kabuto, being achieved by striking real iron plate. It is extremely difficult to strike it with human power, but only by striking iron can generate great tension and elegant curves in detail. As can be observed, the article has both the great design based on the original comics and the genuine function of a real Kabuto with marvelous-balanced molding.

Entirely Made-to-Order Work (Limited to only up to 30 sets, please note that the ordering would be closed when the orders come an upper limit)
Unit Price: $4099(shipping charge is not included)
Size: 34.5cm (W) x 35 cm (D) x 89.5 cm (H) (Base Pedestal included)
Weight: 2.8kg (Base Pedestal included)
Materials: Kabuto: iron, leather, lacquer, cloth, wood, gold foil and silver foil
Base fedestal: Wood
Attachment: Paulownia Wooden box with serial number(Black lacquered wooden box, and gold color Chinese letter which is name of "Naoe Kanetsugu"), Base fedestal, Wood plate
Originated & manufactured by KENSIN Co., LTD

* Kabuto can be disaasembled into different parts which are particularly partitioned and segmented inside the wooden box and comes with individual sacks for wrapping so that each of the parts are well protected.

Estimated Delivery Period: from 1 month to 6 months (Depending on the speed of the craftsmen and will be based in the order of reservations as accepted. We will inform you planned delivery date after your order.)
*Please note amount of the item should be paid in advance, and we would not accept cancellation after confirmation of order. Thank you for your kindest understanding and cooperation.
All works of this product are done based on the real Japanese historical methods of making such items. We have intended to make Real Kabuto - which the owner can even wear and go to a battle with.
*Image only.

(C) Keiichirou ryuu, Tetsuo Hara/NSP 1990, Copyright consent HID-609

Trend of head protector had changed from Happuris (shaped like an inverted U) to Menpo(U shaped) which is a mask protecting cheeks and a chin. Nowadays almost all of antique head protectors appearing on the auctions are Menpo. This circumstances emphasizes the rarity of the Happuri all the more.

This Happuri is the one reproduced from the historical picture scrolls. The article is restored completely by Miura Kimihiro who is typical armor artisan of Japan and can make Japanese traditional armor with just same technique of Sengoku period.

The shape of the Happuri is achieved by striking iron, hand-perfected by the artisan. And the mask is lined with cloth which is just same as Original Happuris of 12th century. Surface of the Happuri is lacquered over and over with finest Urushi, so that color of the article became deep-glossy black.

Striking iron is extremely more difficult than castling, especially when the artist wants to make the mask fitting on human face perfectly. In that respect Miura is the ideal artisan for that work, since he can make real Japanese armor all by himself, and has had a great deal of experience in restoration of armors at museums. (He restored armor which had been presented to King James I by Tokugawa�fs shogun in 1613, and the armor is owned by Royal Armouries in United Kingdom in now.)

An attachement of the item is a black frame wooden box with gold-colored rim. The frame can be put and fix the Happuri and display it.

Ken-Oh Kabuto (Made-to-Order Limited to 30 sets Worldwide!

*MADE AS A REAL Kabuto (1/1 Scale) using the real materials and processes based during the Warring States Period of Japan (Momoyama Period)

Raoh, who is also called as Ken-oh ("Fist King") is the star character of "Hokuto no Ken" (Fist of the North Star) manga series. In the comic, Raoh sacrificed everything for his unwavering lifetime conquest of the whole celestial heavens. Raoh's Kabuto or helmet, being the powerful symbol of his presence was selected as the first product for this new series under the ART OF WAR brand. Thus, Ken-Oh (which means "Fist King") will be the brand name for the all the items from ART OF WAR under this flagship new series. The world of the Fist of the North Star will be recreated using ART OF WAR's highly-acclaimed and well-known technology of molding and production techniques in addition to its current market shattering Berserk Statue lineup offerings. Undoubtedly, this Ken-Oh series will faithfully undergo ART OF WAR's unshakable passion for creating top-quality statues as pieces of art in offering our fans and clients only the best quality there is, consistently.

"Ken-oh Kabuto" *The Deep Love Was the Reason of Drowning

The basic form of the Kabuto is originated from Fist of the North Star Comic's dramatic battle scene between Kenshiro and Souther, the Holy Emperor. Simple but mighty in shape, it was made to represent Raoh's overwhelming divinity and personality in the manga.

*Developed and Produced Using Japanese traditional Amor-making Craft and Style - Ken-Oh Kabuto

Almost all of character products are made from resin such as FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastics) and it is a particularly rare case that real "iron" is used in making such. Not only that shaping and handling genuine iron by striking it is too hard, but also requires a long time, much armor nowadays is made of a compound metal which is easy to shaping by machine press. Moreover, such people skilled in this traditional art are now very few in the sense that nobody wants to continue this old-fashion craft of using such techniques. ART OF WAR avoided to use machine press, and preferred to use only the human hand-forging technique of striking iron in making the main shape of the helmet. It is the same technique as the Japanese traditional Armor craft perfected during the Warring States period which is what AOW is expert at. By faithfully sticking to AOW's ideals in making products and using real material completely for this Kabuto, ART OF WAR guarantees that this effort detail is suitable for Raoh's own personality which can be felt by gazing and observing the item itself.

*An Encounter Between Tetsuo Hara and ART OF WAR

The making of this Raoh Kabuto itself was the result of the direct request by Tetsuo Hara himself, the original creator of Fist of the North Star comic series. The whole manufacturing and development process of the product which has undergone the supervision of Mr. Hara almost took a year to finish. It is not to be let unnoticed that there is a difference between the image based in the manga and the product proportion itself. However, in order to pursue the real intention and meaning of a Kabuto itself, and appreciate its function's beauty, based in Japanese - KINOBI - design's aesthetic sense, we determinedly managed to seek Mr. Hara's permission to slightly change the proportion as represented in the manga (image) to result in better representation of this iconic Raoh' Kabuto. As can be observed, the Kabuto has both the great design based on the original comics and the genuine function of a real Kabuto. The right and left horns are generously applied with KINPAKU (gold-leaf) while the top horns are with GINPAKU (Silver-leaf), same material which makes Japanese Buddhist Statues look so peaceful with a commanding presence and serene gorgeous aura as that of Kinkaku-ji, or the Golden Pavilion, and the Ginkaku-ji, or the Silver Pavilion, in Kyoto. By using only natural materials to make the item, ART OF WAR guarantees this Kabuto will still be appreciated 100 years later, but of course, with great patination due to the passage of time.

Entirely Made-to-Order Work (Limited to only up to 30 sets, please note that the ordering would be closed when the orders are filled)

Size: 54 cm (H) x 49cm (W) x 42 cm (D) (Base Pedestal included)
Weight: 3.4kg (Base Pedestal included)
Materials: Iron, Japanese Red Pine, Hinoki (Japanese Cypress), Lacquer, Gold leaf (KINPAKU), Silver leaf (GINPAKU), Natural Stone, Cowhide, Silk Cloth etc.
Attachment: Paulownia Wooden box(Black-color wooden box, and gold color Chinese letter which means "Fist King")

Estimated Delivery Period: from 1 month to 12 months. First come first serve basis.

Originated & manufactured by: ART OF WAR

Nanban-Kabuto (Helmet)

Nanban-Kabuto is a kind of armor imported from Europe during the Warring State Period of Japan. This work is produced to the scale of 1/2 original. It is in perfect shape even that Japanese-made parts have been fused together with the foreign-country-made bowl. To recreate the graceful and strong line, the functional beauty with no waste of the armor, abundant time has been spent on tapping out the shape. Especially for iron-polishing and painting, one process is usually repeated over 10 times under carefulness. As a result,a kind of unique profoundness and powerfulness has been recreated successfully in the Nanban-Kabuto.

Size: 1/2 scale 23.5cm (H)x 20cm (W)x 18cm (D) Weight: 600g Material: Iron, Leather, Lacquer, Cloth, Wood, etc. Accompaniment: Wood placard, Paulownia wooden case, Pedestal Base Release Time: made-to-order (2-3 months)